Hurricanes look for crumbs of comfort
‘‘Crumbing’’ is a term longassociated with Australian Rules Football.
But listening to Chris Boyd, it sounds entirely applicable to tomorrow Super Rugby semifinal between the Hurricanes and Chiefs at Westpac Stadium. The Hurricanes head coach believes the team that sweeps up the loose ball best will win their way through to next week’s final.
‘‘We’re reasonably optimistic, as are the Highlanders, but I think the Chiefs are the most optimistic side in the competition and you give them half a chance on the crumbs that get spilt [and] they’ll punish you for them. So our ability to scramble on defence and tidy up those crumbs is going to be crucial,’’ Boyd said.
In fullback Damian McKenzie and first five-eighth Aaron Cruden, the Chiefs possess two of the more potent counter-attackers around. So, aside from trying to control the football, the Hurricanes must chase their kicks well.
Being at home, and qualifying top for the playoffs, has earned the Hurricanes the favourites’ tag. The Lions host the Highlanders in Johannesburg in the other semifinal, and Boyd doesn’t buy the idea that his outfit are any better than the others.
‘‘I think all four sides are capable of winning the Super Rugby title. They’re all good sides and are all playing pretty well now,’’ said Boyd.
James Marshall, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (vc), Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita, Ben May, Dane Coles (c)/Ricky Riccitelli, Loni Uhila. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli/Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Mike Kainga, Mark Abbott, Callum Gibbins, Jamison Gibson Park, Vince Aso, Julian Savea.
Damian McKenzie, Sam McNicol, Seta Tamanivalu, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden (co-c), Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tom Sanders, Sam Cane (co-c), Taleni Seu, Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Atu Moli, Nathan Harris, Kane Hames. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Mitchell Graham, Lachlan Boshier, Michael Leitch, Brad Weber, Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson.
‘‘You would never have said it in weeks one, two or three but as the season’s progressed I think genuinely that the best four sides in the competition are left.’’
There was certainly little between the Hurricanes and Chiefs the last time they met. On that occasion, at Westpac Stadium back in April, the Chiefs prevailed 28-27.
The Hurricanes had the better of that clash, but didn’t convert chances into points. It’s a match none of the team have forgotten.